By Poonam Sharma
India, the largest democracy in the world, has always boasted of its pluralistic culture and secular nature, where individuals belonging to various religions, ethnicities, and cultures have lived together for centuries. But in recent times, a concern has been growing about the so-called push towards Islamization under the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Critics of the government have alleged that some of the policies and initiatives of the ruling party have benefited the Muslim community at the cost of the majority Hindu population, triggering concern about the long-term effect of such policies on the social and political fabric of the country.
This piece discusses some of the major policies of the BJP government which have come under attack for being pro-Muslim, such as outlays for Urdu language development, enhanced pay for spiritual teachers, and the rising number of Muslims in bureaucracy. Although the government insists that such steps are consistent with its devotion to social justice and inclusion, critics see them as evidence of an unrestrained appeasement of Muslims at the expense of national integration driven by vote-gathering motivations and not out of a sense of concern for it.
One of the most notable spends by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) BJP government is a 479 crore (INR 4.79 billion) allocation to promote the Urdu language. Although the government says that the investment is made to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of a minority community, critics say it is an unnecessary and unwarranted spend, particularly in the backdrop of the economic woes of the country. The move has been supported by the fact that Urdu is a language of millions of Indians who are part of Muslim communities. The language is a part of India’s history and culture, and to further its development is a step toward the protection of this heritage.
But critics claim that spending such a huge amount for the promotion of a language traditionally linked to the Muslim community might fuel communal sentiments, especially at a time when there are issues like unemployment, poverty, and healthcare to attend to. More importantly, the BJP’s interest in Urdu sparks fears that the ruling party is attempting to appease Muslims ahead of the election by pandering to their concerns. Whether this step is really about cultural conservation or political maneuvering is a matter of hot debate.
Similarly, the Maharashtra BJP government’s decision to triple the salaries of madrassa teachers has also invited criticism across party lines. Madrassas, which are Islamic schools providing religious and secular education, are important institutions in the community, particularly in rural communities with limited access to formal schooling. In Maharashtra, the government has pledged to raise the pay of madrassa teachers, apparently as part of a general push to enhance the quality of education in religious schools.
Although this decision can be taken as a move in the direction of encouraging education among marginalized populations, others have interpreted it as a move to gain the goodwill of Muslims in a state where the BJP has not been able to find an entry among voters from minority groups. The salary hike could also be interpreted as a bid to appease the Muslim population ahead of elections. The detractors counter that the funds would better be used to enhance the public school system of the state, which would positively impact all communities, than disproportionately going into madrassas that primarily educate one population.
The worry, as in other policies, is the general consequence of such actions. Are they part of an overall approach towards securing Muslim votes, or is the government simply serious about raising the salary of clerics as a move to better serve marginal communities? That remains uncertain and continues to arouse suspicion in the eyes of Modi government critics.
In the same vein, Haryana BJP state government’s decision to raise the salaries of clerics by 50% has received both welcome and criticism. Clerics, who are integral members of religious groups by guiding their believers on matters of spirituality, are widely regarded as influencers. The move to raise the clerics’ salaries is designed to recognize the contributions of the religious leaders, particularly in rural areas where the role of the clerics transcends spiritual advice to encompass social and community service.
Despite this, the pay rise has also fueled fears of the BJP’s increasing emphasis on appeasing religious leaders, especially from the Muslim community. Critics have suggested that this policy can lead to worsening divisions among various religious communities in India, especially when India’s secular ethos is under mounting pressure. The action has been described as yet another instance of the Modi government spending taxpayers’ funds to placate Muslims in the expectation of securing their votes.
Perhaps the most controversial element of the Muslim appeasement debate is the perceived attempt to raise the proportion of Muslim members of the Indian Parliament. According to some reports, a new delimitation process could result in as many as 300 out of 800 Members of Parliament (MPs) being from Muslim-majority constituencies. Critics argue that this is yet another example of the BJP’s attempts to appease the Muslim community, using the tools of electoral politics to ensure a favorable outcome for the party in future elections.
Although the government claims that the process of delimitation is to bring into place the real demographic balance of the nation, changes in population and shifting political realignments included, the action could have very far-reaching consequences for the secular nature of the Indian state, critics propose. The concern is that Muslim representation may grow and at the expense of other groups, notably Hindus, may find the state paying undue attention to Muslim concerns.
Yet another matter that has drawn raised eyebrows from critics is the growth in Muslim representation in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other higher government service ranks. Reportedly, the number of Muslim IAS officers doubled during the Modi regime, especially after reforms aimed at making civil services exams accessible to everyone.
While the rise in Muslim representation within the civil services is being greeted as a move toward inclusivity and social justice, others are critical that it is political appeasement. The fear is that Muslim candidates are not being recruited on the basis of merit alone but by electoral considerations aimed at securing Muslim votes.
The policies implemented by the Modi government, including the promotion of Urdu, the increase in madrassa teacher salaries, the rise in cleric salaries, the proposed increase in Muslim representation in Parliament, and the growth of Muslim representation in the civil services, have sparked heated debates across the country. Although the government insists that these programs are a part of its social justice commitment, they are seen by critics as part of a policy of appeasement of the Muslim community to garner votes.
As India remains to grapple with its political and demographic maze, it is crucial to scrutinize the actual motives behind such policies. Are they a sincere effort to ensure inclusivity and the needs of marginalized communities or an integral part of a strategic political maneuver that could undermine the secular character of the country? Only time will reveal the impact of these policies on India’s future and whether they will unite the country further or further entrench existing fault lines.
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